A tailor-made start
©IMAGO
Lionel Messi scored three goals against Algeria in World Champion Argentina’s 3-0 win at the start of the World Cup, while Kylian Mbappé scored twice in France’s 3-1 win against Senegal. It seems only a matter of time that Miroslav Klose’s goal record will fall at this World Cup. It could happen on Monday.
With his hat-trick against Algeria, Messi drew level with Klose. Messi scored his 16th goal in his sixth World Cup participation. Argentina’s captain needed 27 games, Klose was on the pitch 24 times. Mbappé will probably reach this mark even faster, taking part in a World Cup for the third time after 2018 and 2022 and being successful 14 times in 15 appearances. Only Brazil’s Ronaldo lies between the three world champions with 15 goals (to the statistics).
“Everyone talks to me about Klose’s record,” said Mbappé before the game against Iraq on Monday. “It’s the first time in my life that a record seems unreal to me. Because for me it was unthinkable that after just two World Cups, at the age of 27, I would already be at this level in a competition in which every great legend of football has played.” At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, when France won the title, he scored four times, and in 2022 he scored eight goals, including three in the final defeat against Argentina.
Even if Mbappé has the record, the success of the team is his top priority. “My ultimate goal is to win the World Cup, bring home a third star, return to the Champs-Élysées with the trophy in hand and give all French people an unforgettable summer,” said Mbappé. He still needs two goals to draw level with Klose.
The 38-year-old Messi showed against Algeria that any age-related doubts about him are unfounded. For him, the World Cup record is “just a statistic,” even if he wants to break it against Austria on Monday. “As a child, I could never have imagined what I would experience,” said the eight-time world footballer. “I don’t look at the number. It’s an honor to stand next to Klose, next to Ronaldo and next to Mbappé.”